284 10-29 Rest at Ainshale, Duke's Man

He runs fast, fast, fast.

Passing through the gaps between the students, I run at full speed towards the direction of the voice.

In the middle of the corridor leading to the cafeteria, near the entrance to the open plaza.......there they are.

''Just come. Slave contracts and such can be done later.''

'No!　Let go of me...!　Let me go!

A man in some kind of expensive clothing grabbed my wrist and found Wendy who was resisting it and approached one step with an accelerating direction (vector axel) full of magic power and dispelled the hand that was holding her.

''Huh, what are you?''

Master!

Hmm. Wendy, come here.

Wendy goes behind me as White calls out to me, and me and White step forward to hide.

It seems that White has followed me closely.

And ... a nobleman I don't recognize.

Apparently, it's not the parents of the students I know.

'Wendy, are you okay?　What's going on?

Sir, master.........

Wendy, who is either relieved that we're here or scared that we were about to be taken away, hugs me.......

Yeah it was scary, wasn't it?

He pats Wendy's head as he pats her good, good.

Nyarrow.........

An aristocratic man who mumbled to himself and then smiled wryly.

He's definitely 10 years older than me.

He's skinny, with a pompous, vulgar beard and long blond hair for a man.

He's dressed in glittering clothes and it's easy to tell he's an aristocrat.

He is the very image of a disgusting aristocrat...but the fact that he doesn't wear jewelry and isn't gobbling it up is a bit surprising.

He's a man whose eyes are muddy and doesn't give a good impression at all.

'You called me master, didn't you?　So you're Wendy's master.

I don't know why.

It makes me feel very uncomfortable that this guy is calling me Wendy's name.

'....Oh. Yes, I am. What can I do for my Wendy?

Maybe that's why I can't help but be combative even though I try to restrain myself even though I've never met them before.

Although I told Raz and Clan earlier that I'm a child, it seems that even I haven't fully grown up.

'My lord you're going too fast. Mu.........who are you?

I don't know.

It seems that he couldn't keep up with the speed of me and White, who were moving in the direction of the quicksilver's acceleration, but Aina caught up with him.

Aina is quicker than she understands and stands beside me, wary of protecting me.

'If you don't know me then you're not a nobleman. You're a commoner. Then we'll talk fast. Give me the girl. I'll give you more money than you could ever earn.

...What?

'Didn't you hear that?　I am asking you to give me that woman. Her beauty. Her beauty, her grace. It is a sin for a commoner to even touch a thing like you, who does not know the value of a single hair. It is worthy of me, the noble!

The look of vulgarity on his face right now is the very essence of his character.

You want me to give Wendy to a man like that?

If it's a joke, it's too bad in nature. It's obnoxious.

"No.

I want you to think very carefully before you answer. You can't make enough money to be a teacher for the rest of your life, but you can play with it all your life.　You'd better make a good reply while I, noble as I am, go about things peacefully.

I'm not a teacher, but enough money to live and play for the rest of my life....

That's a nice sounding word.

To live without working, you have to have money.

But it doesn't mean anything if you don't have Wendy to live off of.

Didn't you hear me?　I said no.

However, although they are the same kind, is this guy higher in rank?

''Oh, this is my fiancée, the two twin-star beauty princesses, isn't it? How are you?

"[W]e...

It's not like they're talking to me from above, like they're talking to each other from above, but it's the way they talk and smile in a way that leaves me feeling disgusted.

And then the two of them quickly hide behind me.

They grasped my clothes with trembling hands and peeked out a bit from both sides.

'We are not engaged, are we?

Didn't your father say no to this?

Maybe it's because it's a conversation between the nobles, or maybe it's because of the tension and disgust in his voice that he doesn't sound like he's delaying it.

But as I stand in front of the two trembling men, I wallow to protect them.

Of course, Wendy also hides behind her back, stretching her chest so that she doesn't even show up.

'I guess my parental love of not wanting to give up my beloved daughter is working too hard. I'm sure no other man could take them to wife other than me. Isn't it?

Absolutely not!

''Are you sure?　Your father's position may not be as good as it could be, but...

The two of them become silent when they say that.

.........Isn't it embarrassing that a good old man would force and threaten marriage to a girl who is still young in age?

''Ho. I'd be in a bad position. Is that considered a threat?

Just as I was thinking about putting my thoughts into words, a voice came from behind me.

When I turn around, Karanto-san comes dashing over with clattering footsteps, urging me to hide the two of them behind my back and stand beside me.

''.........Well this is Marquis Belsen. You are in a good mood. .........Why are you in the academy?

You're not in a very good mood, Master Gelgar. Oh, your father died and you became the master of the family. So, Duke Gerger Dolgas. I just happened to be at the school to do some errands. By the way, didn't I formally decline your daughter's request?

I don't know if he is a marquis or a duke, but he has a very high status either way.

But no matter how high your status is, that's not a reason to let go of Wendy, no matter if you're dealing with a king or a god.

''Yes. I thought there was a mistake. 'I don't think I'd ever say no to someone as noble as I am.'

That's a lot of confidence. Then I will formally decline again.

........I see.

So this is the guy that Karanto-san said absolutely not, and the two of them said they didn't like it either.

Now that I'm in front of him, I can understand that the three of them are convinced of his decision.

There is no specifics. But I wouldn't think of leaving my precious daughter in the care of this man.

''........Are there any other candidates?　A man more worthy of a twin-star beauty than I am.

Yes, sir. The man who would have made my daughter happy.

I'd love to hear your name.

Why would I tell you?

...Perhaps I'm the man that Mr. Currant said he was.

I said, 'What?' And I'm not a dull man of the system who didn't hear the words I should have heard.

But perhaps to keep me from realizing that it's me, Karanto-san fights with the man who was called Gerger with words without even a glance at me.

You're going to regret this, aren't you?

As Gerger glared at him threateningly, a knight and a faceless man wearing a robe up to his head with what he thought was his bodyguard stepped forward.

But he's probably not holding up a sword or staff, but rather for intimidation purposes.

But Karanto-san doesn't even show any pretense of being moved.

You can't afford to be taunted by an ancestor who has served the royal family for generations, and after a long period of time has become a marquis. It is you....what happened to your father's hand in the hands of the Knight Commander? You are the one who forgot what happened to your father's hand in the hands of the Knight Commander.

.........

They continue to stare at each other in silence.

The students who had begun to gather in the distance to watch with bated breath in an atmosphere of instantaneous conflict.

''........I understand. As for the Twin Star Beauty, let's agree for now. ........that's right. Once we have Wendy, we'll be rid of them. I don't suppose it's because you're protecting a commoner there?

Gerger turns his gaze to me again.

A shiver runs down my spine as I look into his eyes.

He's looking at me, but he's not looking at me.

''No. It wasn't me, sir.

'Well then there is no reason to protect the commoners there, is there?

'It's not like that, you know. The people sheltering him are--

Strawberry. Gerger.

The one who appeared as if the wall of students naturally cracked open was Iris.

Her voice is low, and she walks towards us with anger that is unimaginable from her usual ice-ice atmosphere.

Iris just walked past us and stood in front of us.

Then, Gerger's odd gaze seemed to return to a normal one out of surprise when he saw Iris.

''........Iris. Why are you here........

I'm at work. Unlike you, I don't have time to waste. Why are you the one who is here?　You're under house arrest, right?

.........

Gerger looks like he's crushed a bitter bug when Iris appears.

However, he soon regains his composure with a single coughing fit, as if he has realized his current state.

''Such as house arrest I'm just living a quiet and modest life as the king told me to?

That's the whole point of house arrest, isn't it? You should have stayed at home until the rest of your life. You've come to see the Twin Star Princesses who have been dumped by you, haven't you?　But did you find Wendy there and fall in love with her?　Unfortunately, it's already been sold to the fullest extent. Give it up and go home.

.........It's an intimidating feeling, as if Iris's blood is thick with royalty.

This is probably Iris on a normal day.

''........You want me, a noble, to back off against the commoners?　Are you trying to tell me to give up Wendy?

'That's what I'm going to do?　Didn't you see that?　For the most part, considering what your father has done, even confiscation of property and house arrest would be too lenient a punishment.

"Your father is dead. This has nothing to do with me. If you say so, Iris, your father was a man who abandoned his royal duties.

'Oh yes.... But I don't remember my father causing a clear loss to the kingdom. The crime of losing a knight commander whose name is known even in neighboring countries by the patriarch of the duke's family would be a big one.

The king and I are related by blood, but we've known each other since we were children. Royalty and a simple Knight Commander are not a match for each other. Perhaps the good king, who values his family as a blood relative, has accommodated you.

"More blood than fruit..... This may be going too far, but it's a bit too soft, especially in front of you. We're expecting a royal checkup soon. They're going to check if there are any abnormalities at that time.

That's good. 'That's good, because the king must continue to be in good health. Well, I don't think there's anything to it.

I see.

Iris is silent and stares at Gergar, as if she has something in mind.

But Gerger doesn't avert his gaze as if he has nothing to blame.

''Well if you're going to back out of that man Iris, I won't have to forgive you now, considering that you're also a relative.

Why should I withdraw from it for you? Why should I withhold my hand from the straw for the sake of you? Why should I ask your forgiveness? And also this is a school. You must not allow this matter to get out of the school. If you use this incident as an opportunity to get to Wendy, remember that the laws of this country will judge you.

"...Iris. You haven't shown much courtesy to your superiors. You've been calling me a nobleman for some time now...

I'm just picking and choosing who to honor. Now, it's over. Get the hell out of here. And if you're still going to do what you're going to do...

When Iris raises her hand, Ayame instantly appears and puts her hand on her armament, showing her will that she can do it at any time.

The other guard also puts his hand on his sword to deal with that action... but unfortunately, he's not strong enough.

Ayame's cold eyes glare at me, and I can feel the pressure on me.

''Well it can't be helped. Let's go home for today. But ... I'm not going to give up. I'm going to do whatever it takes to get it. By any means necessary.........

Gerger turns his crazy eyes to Wendy.

But Gerger's eyes don't reflect Wendy, and me, Aina, Karant-san and Iris stand in front of him.

White is standing in front of me so that I don't have to worry about anything, and he doesn't take a stance so that he can pull out his knife at any time.

'....Let's go.

Gerger suddenly stops looking and turns on his heel to leave.

Fatigue sets in, as if the tension has been burned away.

I was tempted to sit down, but then I remembered that Wendy, Raz and Clan were behind me, so I decided to gather around and talk to them alone for now.

The students watching from afar were dispersed by Mr. Currant and Iris.